Customer Reviews

The Guitar F/X Cookbook: The Ultimate Source for Guitar Tricks, Effects, and Other Unorthodox Techniques

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

This book is chock full of techniques for producing all kinds of interesting, and some very unusual sounds with a guitar. Some of the sounds may be more useful than others, and some are easier to master than others, but the best thing about this book is that it encourages the reader to think differently about the guitar. Sure, it's important to be able to play chords and scales well, but the guitar can do so much more than that. If you want to work on traditional technique, the Fretboard Logic series is excellent, but if your looking to expand your horizons with regard to the sounds a guitar can make, this is the book to have.

Most of the examples given are for electric guitar, though some would apply to acoustic as well. Effects are used too, but not as extensively as one might thing. It's mostly distortion, wha wha, reverb, and the occasional delay or chorus / flanger effect. Most of the sounds are produced by using unconventional playing styles. It's tons of fun, and the sample sounds CD that comes with the book is very useful and comprehensive. I highly recommend The Guitar F/X Cookbook.

This book is meant to be fun--it's not meant to be a guitar instruction book, in the pure sense. For instruction on playing and understanding the guitar, read the excellent "Fretboard Logic" books by Bill Edwards and "Guitar for Dummies" and "Rock Guitar for Dummies" by Jon Chappell.

This is just a book to help us think outside the box. Eddie Van Halen, Joe Satriani, Eric Johnson, and Steve Vai, to name a few are always thinking outside the box, and they incoporate "tricks" in their playing to help them express themselves through their music.

I liked this book, and the CD that comes with the book is very helpful because it gives concrete examples of what some of these sounds sound like when played correctly.

For those guitar "experts" out there that don't remember what it was like to start off with this instrument, I will tell you that after I bought this book, I was delighted to find many of those long un-answered questions that I sought to answer for many years as a beginner. 17 years later, I realized that I, a totally self-taught, guitarist had found many of the right techniques (or got close) on my own... but still, if I had found this book earlier, my growth would have accelerated. What is so cool, is that there are a handfull that I haven't even thought about trying... but, now I shall. Doing Sitar or Koto? Now, that sounds like fun. Not quite my area, but worth a try for a kick-butt transition.

Don't be too hard on this book... its always good to get re-assurance, and most importantly, a guiding light. This book promises that, and delivers. I say, a MUST buy... there is no substitute for free experimentation though, e.g. I found most of these techniques on my own, but, like I said, its always reassuring to see that you were close to the answers, or dead on.

I give it 4 stars, instead of 5, because no book will ever answer the infinite number of questions about this instrument. It is up to you. When YOU write the perfect book, maybe I'll buy it. Until then, keep trying... this is such a wonderful instrument that I shall never stop playing, or experimenting with new sounds. I can only hope you, the guitarists out there, never quit as a result of "lack of answers or inspiration".

Similar review for Guitar Tone & Effects by David Brewster, from Hal*Leonard. Check it out. What is your price for figuring out this magnificent instrument???

Jam away, Jimi The Gent

This is not a method book in the traditional sense. It's akin to a spice rack to flavor up your playing and help you think outside of the idiomatic nature of the guitar. It's definitely a very good book and full of useful ideas. If you partnered this with Michael Mueller's "Guitar Techniques" you will come away with a good understanding of the fairly current state of the art in electric guitar playing. (Mueller's book is a more conventional starting point) For those who wish to take it one step further, seek out Peter Yates' "Prepared Guitar Techniques" and John Schneider's "Contemporary Guitar" (Schneider is an advocate of altered tuning systems - not scordatura - for the guitar) Unfortunately, there is no definitive book on extended techniques/systems for the guitar (microtonal, fretless, prepared, ambient, tabletop, etc) but these books come close. A volume on Tom Morello's technique would be a good coda to this type of book.

I got it just to see what tricks I could learn. A bunch are unimportant and I will probably never use them for anything. But there are some really good tricks in here as well.

The harmonics bits, and such are great for adding more to your arsenal of tones you can achieve, but you can learn the techniques in other books as well. I didn't give a low rating because it does contain a hearty amount of techniques, they just aren't what I'd use. But the book does deliver what it is supposed to.

If you're really bored with standard guitar sound, and want to learn other off-the-wall tricks, get this book. Otherwise, harness your latent skills and just be more creative.

You might be thinking this is some boring old instructional book. Well, you'de be wrong! This is a great gift to give and an excellent present to recieve. Chris has been my guitar teacher for over a year now and he has taught me a lot of cool tricks, fun licks, and great ideas. His book will show you how to perform these great tricks and even how to launch a guitar from a slingshot and through a window! That's not all, you get 45 (44 if you don't include the slingshot) really cool tricks that some of the most popular artist have used over and over. Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Steve Vai, Eddie Van Halen, Jeff Beck, Allan Holdsworth, and many more! "This book demonstrates and explains 45 (or 44) incredible guitar sounds using common stomp boxes and a few unique techniques." I highly suggest you purchase this book! It is great for Electrical guitar players and some tricks for acoustics too! Hope you love it like I do!

VERY GOOD BOOK, HAD A LOT OF GUITAR TRICKS, AND IMPROVISED IDEAS TO MAKE YOUR GUITAR WORK FOR YOU. A GREAT BOOK TO BEEF UP YOUR GUITAR PLAYING.

This book is definitely not worth the price. Not even worth $5. There is no insight to cool effect techniques here. Basic common knowledge or simple experimentation tips. I returned it very disappointed. Also, shoddy printing job.

This book is a very brief compilation of tricks used to produce sound effects using an electric guitar as if it were a synthesizer. If that is your goal, by all means buy the book. But don't be mislead into thinking you'll learn anything that you could use while actually playing the instrument, nor will you pick up any tips that will improve your playing skills. I sent it back for a refund.